Bob Gordon has finally finished his 1979 replay and here’s postseason report- NLCS Game 1

Reader Bob Gordon wrote to tell me that he’s finished his 1979 replay and is playing out the postseason.  Here’s his postseason report from Game 1.  -Tom

Hey Tom,
I finished the regular season 1979 replay I started in 1982.  (That’s a whole ‘ other story.). I’m playing the playoffs and thought you might be interested in the write ups from each game.  I can’t write like Ken Heard (the man should be writing a sorts book), Scott Fennessy (he brings the game to life!) or Jim Currie (no one brings that energy to their writing), but I’ll give it the old college (not U of I) try.

Game 1 of the NLCS finds us in Houston.  Houston closed out LA in the last ten days of the season.  Their hitting was weak.  Dave Kingman out homered them 62-47.  They scored just enough runs to support a pitching staff that led the circuit in ERA.  Their top 4 starters all finished in the top ten in ERA as well.  JR Richard (20-11, 2.55) draws the game one assignment.  He led the NL in WHIP (0.82). 

Pittsburgh ran away with the east.  They led the league in runs scored and rode a staff that featured three good starters and a deep bullpen.  Blyleven (20-8, 3.25) will try to get the Bucs off to a good start.

Omar Moreno walks to lead off the first and swipes second (14*).  Madlock had replaced Foli in the number 2 spot to provide some extra pop against Richard.  So naturally he was asked to bunt – and he did successfully.  Up comes Dave Parker. He grounds to Gonzalez at short and the Bucs lead 1-0.  Richard restores order – until the 3rd.  Blyleven bounces on off the heel of Cedeno’s glove and reaches on the E3.  Moreno doubles to right center and the Bucs are in business.  Madlock walks to load them up with no outs and here comes Parker.  Parker drives one to left and the hard charging Cruz fields it on one hop – almost.  Blyleven scores, Moreno comes home (E7) and the Bucs still have runners on 2nd and 3rd and lead 3-0.  Richards gets the next 3 batters and shuts the Pirates down the rest of the way.  Over the next 6 innings he gives up just 2 hits and a walk.  His line: 9 innings CG, 1ER, 4 hits, 4 walks and 6 K’s. 

Fast forward to the Astro 6th.  Leonard leading off.  Jeff hit 307 and finished 8th in the NL in batting. He drills a single to right – and ends Blyleven’s no hit bid. Bert had retired 15 straight including 8 K’s. Bruce Bochy bats next.  Bruce hit just a buck eighty for the season. (Is it me, or shouldn’t a catcher with fielding 6 hit north of the Mendoza line?). True to form, Bochy is strike out victim number 9 and should probably contemplate a move to management.  Richards sacrifices Leonard to second for Denny Walling.  Denny hit 307 in 251 AB – but Blyleven gets him to line hard to Garner at second and it’s still 3-0 Bucs.  Cesar Cedeno raps a single to right with one gone in the Astro 7th.  But Cruz skies to Milner in left and Cabell  flies to Parker in right and Blyleven needs six more outs to put the Bucs up one game to none. 

Landestoy pinch hits for Richards to lead off the 9th.  He grounds one to Garner for the first out.  Denny Walling draws the first walk from Blyleven and the Astros hopes are alive.  Former Pirate and left hand hitting Craig Reynolds comes off the bench to hit.  He posted a 268 avg for the season.  All he can manage is a pop fly to Bill Robinson – in for defensive purposes – in left.  Cedeno is the Astros last hope.  He drills one to Foli on one hop.  Foli flips to Garner at second and game one is in the books.  Parker was 2-3 with a double, a walk and two RBIs.  Bert Blyleven was outstanding – CG shutout, 2 hits, a walk and fanned 11. 

Game two tomorrow featuring another pair of 20 game winners: the Candy man takes on Joe Niekro.

Thanks Bob!  Keep ‘em coming!  Love to see some more stats from the regular season too!